Stephen Peter Ackerman, 81, died peacefully on July 22, 2016, at his home in Longmont, Colo., surrounded by family.

Steve was born in New York City to his parents, Sydney Ackerman and Wini Wishik. He spent his early years living with his mother in Flushing, N.Y. His mother, who was a writer in the radio and television business, blessed him with a passion for music, culture and learning.

Steve married Jo Simons in 1965 in New York and resided in New Jersey until 1971. Steve and Jo had three children in New Jersey, and in 1971 the family moved to Mundelein, Ill., near Chicago. so he could start his own business called Graphix, a successful printing-press and equipment-repair business. Steve remained in the Chicago area for 28 years until he retired and moved to Colorado in 2002 to be closer to his beloved family. He lived in Berthoud for several years.

Steve enjoyed wood-working and refinished many tables, turning them into family heirlooms. He enjoyed photography and dabbled in directing his family in creative 8 mm silent films. He was also a baseball fan and a Cubs fan. He enjoyed watching the Cubs until his last days. Throughout his life Steve became a well-read collector of books and record albums, amassing a collection of over 2000 albums and countless books. Jazz, blues and classical were his favorite genres, and one of his favorite songs was “Skylark,” by Ernestine Anderson, which his musician daughter Diana and grandson Jesse played for him in May. The acclaimed television series “Columbo” was his favorite; he took delight in every episode’s nuances, plot twists, and unexpected cameos.

Steve was instrumental in helping to successfully raise his six grandchildren with an abundance of laughter, love, compassion and wisdom. He supported everything his three children and six grandchildren did. Everybody who met Steve loved him, as he was always quick with a smile and a joke, or a tidbit of interesting news and culture.

Stephen is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Charles Schenck and Patricia Schenck of Pittsburgh; daughter and son-in-law, Alexandra and John Fischer of Longmont; his daughter, Diana Ackerman of Wausau; his son and daughter-in-law, Timothy Ackerman and Martha Hartney of Longmont; his six grandchildren, Joey, Izzy, Jesse, Devin, Sabrina, and Luka.

He will be missed and remembered for his boundless love and support for his family and for his humor, wit and wisdom by all who knew him. His wisdom and his compassion is his gift.

Mr. Ackerman will be memorialized in a celebration on Aug. 13, 2016, at his home. Aug. 13 would have been his 82^nd birthday. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to his favorite place, the Longmont Humane Society.